Grass fire forces evacuations in Hobbs

Published 6:00 pm, Sunday, February 24, 2008

The wildfire started about seven miles north of U.S. Highway 62-180 on County Road 483 and was moving to the southeast toward the community of Nadine.

"The high winds here are helping fuel the fire," he said. Winds were blowing as high as 50 mph Monday, he added.

The blaze burned in dry brush in an area that contains commercial buildings and some homes west of Hobbs before it moved into a rural area, Graham said. About 100 people were asked to evacuate, he said.

Firefighters from eight local departments fought the blaze. They had contained the north and east sides of the fire and were working on the southeast side of the fire to keep it from moving closer to Nadine.

Firefighters found a dry chemical residue, such as a chemical sprayed from a fire extinguisher, where the blaze started, as if somebody tried to put out the flames, Graham said. He said he could not comment on whether the fire was human caused.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

There were no reports of injuries. One pickup and three utility trailers used on ranches were burned, he said.

About 10 people who had been asked to evacuate and 60 students gathered at Hobbs High School, Graham said.

T.J. Parks, operations director for the Hobbs School District, said students who lived west of town waited at the high school Monday afternoon for their parents to get them.

School district buses had been called on to help evacuate about 50 to 60 people from an assisted living home that was threatened by the fire, Parks said.

"You certainly could see the smoke billow up in the air," he said of the blaze, which he saw jump a four-lane road. "It was amazing how quick it was traveling."